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LIFE  OF 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 

IN   VERSE 

FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

BY 
STELLA    TYLER   MATHEWS 


mjmtmmmmmmm 


LINCOLN  ROOM 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://archive.org/details/lifeofabrahamlinOOmath 


The  Life  of 

Abraham  Lincoln 

In         Verse 


STELLA    TYLER    MATHEWS 


PRESS  OF 

Icjwma*i&]~[a)iford(a 

SEATTLE 


Copyright    1923 

BY    STELLA    TYLER    MATHEWS 

SEATTLE,   WASHINGTON 


WMkMTY  Of  ID 


Copyright 
Harry   E.    Neef 


LINCOLN  MONUMENT 
SPRINGFIELD,    ILL. 


3.  7i.fe3 


t 


5p|  EDICATED  to  my  mother 
^f  in  memory  of  the  beautiful 
lessons  taught  me  when  a  child  of 
the  life  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 


727651 


INDEX 

Page 

Our  Hero  of  February  1 2 1 3 

A  Girl's  View  of  Lincoln 15 

The  Birth  of  Lincoln  16 

The  Bake  Oven  in  Lincoln's  Home  18 

Clothes  of  Lincoln's  Boyhood  20 

Pioneer  Days — Three  Legged  Stools  21 

— Washing  Clothes  21 

— Ploughs  2 2 

— Mirrors  2 2 

— Exchange  of  Goods  22 

Death  Of  Lincoln's  Mother  25 

Lincoln's  Verse 27 

Lincoln's  Boyhood  Work 28 

Lincoln's  Step-Mother  29 

A  Spelling  Match 31 

Cost  Of  Lincoln's  Trousers  32 

How  Lincoln  Studied 33 

The  First  Book  Lincoln  Owned 34 

Shucking  Corn  _ 38 

Log  Rollings  38 

Quilting  Bee 40 

Dancing  4 1 

His  First  Dollar 42 

Lincoln's  First  Sight  Of  Slavery 44 

Young  Lincoln's  Speeches 46 

Lincoln  A  Peddler  48 

Lincoln's  Honesty  49 


INDEX  — Cont. 

Page 

Lincoln  Captain  In  The  Black  Hawk  War 51 

The  Post  Office  Lincoln  Kept  53 

A  Surveyor  55 

Lincoln  An  Obliging  Man  56 

Lincoln's  Home  57 

Lincoln  As  A  Lawyer  59 

Lincoln's  Knife  60 

Lincoln's  Rescue  Of  A  Pig 61 

Lincoln's  Famous  Horse  Trade 63 

The  Rail  Candidate  65 

The  Old  Lady's  Gift  67 

Lincoln  A  Temperance  Man 68 

The  Lawyer's  Lesson  69 

Lincoln  And  Tad  70 

Tad's   Tools   72 

Tad's  Order  For  Rations  73 

Tad  Gets  His  Commission  76 

Tad — As  Lieutenant  78 

Tad's  Goats  80 

Lincoln's  Letter  To  Tad  82 

Review  Of  The  Potomac  Army  83 

Home  Life  85 

The  Dying  Soldier  Lad  86 

Mr.  Lincoln  Believes  Himself  Homely  88 

A  Little  Girl's  Judgment  Of  Lincoln  89 

The  Veteran  90 

Lincoln's  View  of  the  Southern  Capitol  92 

Death  Of  Lincoln  95 


Endorsed  by  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Sponsored  by 

The  Woman's  Relief  Corps — Auxiliary  to  the  G.  A.  R. 

Also  endorsed  by 

The  Ladies  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Daughters  and  Sons  of  Veterans, 

and  their  Auxiliaries 

At  the  Forty-First  Annual  Encampment  of  the 

Department  of  Washington  and  Alaska  Grand  Army  of  the 

Republic, 
Spokane,  Washington,    June  25-29,    1923 


T 


PREFACE 

HERE  is  no  greater  character  in  all  our  history  than  that 
of  Abraham  Lincoln. 


The  beautiful  examples  he  gave  to  us  should  be  known  in 
every  American  home.  His  life  cannot  help  but  inspire  all  who 
read  its  story.  He  started  at  the  lowest  round  of  the  ladder, 
and  reached  the  top  during  his  life.  His  great  ambition,  com- 
bined with  the  untiring  effort,  in  spite  of  the  humble  begin- 
ning, at  last  won  the  highest  office  of  the  nation. 

Because  every  child  in  this  country  should  know  Lincoln's 
life  story,  I  have  collected  the  interesting  anecdotes  of  his  life 
from  Gallahar,  Baldwin,  Selby,  Bullard  and  others,  and  have 
written  them  in  verse  so  the  children  may  memorize  the  stories 
to  help  them  in  future  years  and  to  give  them  courage  to  go 
forward  when  they  might  otherwise  fall  by  the  way. 

These  poems  are  arranged  for  the  home  or  for  school,  church 
and  patriotic  entertainments.  No  child  can  read  the  Life  of 
Lincoln  without  feeling  a  great  desire  to  be  a  stronger  and  bet- 
ter man  or  woman. 

Stella  Tyler  Mathews. 


Our  Hero  of  February  12th 


Today  we  all  come  to  celebrate, 

The  birthday  of  Abraham  Lincoln  the  Great, 
Our  model — our  hero  the  greatest  of  men, 

It  helps  us  each  day  when  we  know  what  he's  been. 

His  home  we  all  know  was  the  poorest  to  find, 
Yet  all  through  his  life  he  was  humble  and  kind, 

His  mother  his  teacher,  had  taught  him  each  day, 
To  be  upright  and  honest  in  work  and  in  play. 

She  taught  him  his  lessons  when  he  was  a  lad, 

From  a  Bible  and  speller;  'twas  all  that  she  had. 

He  did  a  man's  work  when  he  was  but  ten, 
And  really  his  childhood  had  ended  then. 

After  working  all  day  he  would  study  all  night, 
Read  books  he  could  get  by  the  dim  candle  light, 

Or  by  flames  by  the  great  burning  logs  in  the  grate, 
He  would  study  and  work  until  very  late. 

His  school  days  numbered  just  twelve  months  in  all, 
There  was  no  time  for  school;  just  work  was  the  call. 

Oh  what  would  he  think  could  he  be  here  today, 

And  see  our  great  schools?     He'd  think  study  was  play. 

Opportunities  never  went  by  him  unseen; 

If  they  had  he  would  never  our  President  have  been. 
But  study  his  life  and  follow  it  through, 

And  then  you  will  know  what  a  poor  boy  can  do. 


14  TheLifeof 

We've  had  other  great  men  as  the  years  have  rolled  by; 

We  all  have  our  heroes — to  be  like  them  we  try. 
But  I'll  take  dear  Lincoln  and  I'll  try  to  be 

Like  him,  so  you  will  be  proud  of  me. 

When  you  hear  all  our  stories  you'll  agree  with  me  then, 
He  was  the  poorest  of  boys — though  greatest  of  men. 

Then  compare  him  with  others  and  what  he  passed  through, 
And  you'll  want  to  make  him  your  hero  too. 


Abraham     Lincoln         15 
A  Girl's  View  of  Lincoln 

Oh  what  do  you  think  the  girls  should  sav 

On  this  memorable  Lincoln's  Day? 
Of  course  we  are  girls  and  will  never  be  men 

But  we  can  be  great  as  others  have  been 

Dear  Lincoln  says  there  was  no  other, 

He  owed  so  much  as  he  did  to  his  mother. 

Ah!  some  day,  mothers  we  will  be; 

We  should  learn  to  be  patient,  and  kind,  you  see. 

They  say  the  tree  grows  as  the  twig  is  bent, 

A  life  may  be  governed  by  the  childhood  spent* 

'Tis  the  mother  who  takes  the  tiny  hand, 
And  points  out  the  lessons  in  life  so  grand. 

His  mother  was  honest,  patient  and  kind, 

Lincoln  was  like  her,  as  we  find. 
Let  us  take  for  our  model  his  mother,  too 

It  will  show  us  all  what  a  girl  can  do. 


16  TheLifeof 

The  Birth  of  Lincoln 

The  mother  lay  with  the  babe  in  her  arms 

And  proud  she  was  of  her  son; 
The  baby  had  those  sweet  little  charms 

That  the  hearts  of  all  mothers  have  won. 

She  kissed  the  baby — she  gave  him  love 
And  pressed  him  close  to  her  breast; 

But  the  little  babe  sent  her  from  above, 
In  the  poorest  garments  was  dressed. 

No  little  white  folds  enwrapped  the  sweet  child, 

No  beautiful  dainty  white  bed; 
But  a  nature  like  Christ's,  so  sweet  and  so  mild, 

And  by  that  through  his  life  he  was  led. 

So  in  a  log  cabin  without  any  floor 
But  the  ground — this  dear  baby  came; 

A  bear  skin,  real  large,  was  used  for  the  door, 
One  covered  the  windows  the  same. 

Instead  of  a  stove  as  we  see  in  this  day, 

They  had  a  very  large  grate 
Where  they  rolled  the  big  logs — a  very  queer  way, 

And  these  logs  would  burn  until  late. 

The  logs  as  they  burned  gave  the  heat  and  the  light 

For  even  candles  were  rare; 
But  the  smile  of  the  baby  her  heart  made  bright, 

And  she  gave  him  a  true  mother's  care. 


Abraham     Lincoln         17 

The  bed,  made  of  furs,  was  laid  on  the  ground, 

The  chairs  were  just  blocks  of  wood; 
But  no  words  of  complaint  were  here  ever  found, 

And  they  thought  their  blessings  were  good. 

But  dear  Baby  Jesus  once  slept  in  the  hay, 

Yet  He  became  greatest  we  find; 
Our  dear  Baby  Lincoln  was  poor  the  same  way, 

And  like  Christ,  he  was  gentle  and  kind. 

And  when  our  great  ruler  at  last  he  became, 

He  would  tell  of  this  cabin  so  small, 
Would  tell  of  his  mother,  was  proud  just  the  same, 

As  though  he  could  a  mansion  recall. 

Never  look  on  the  poor  with  contempt  and  with  scorn, 
For  like  Lincoln,  they  great  may  become, 

Our  great  men  are  often  of  poor  parents  born, 
And  raised  in  a  small  humble  home. 


18  TheLifeof 

The  Bake  Oven  in  Lincoln's  Home 

Would  you  like  to  hear  the  story 
Of  the  bread  in  Lincoln's  day? 

Of  the  quaint  old  fashioned  oven? 
Listen  close  to  what  I  say. 

I  was  proud  when  mother  taught  me, 
To  make  bread  so  nice  and  white, 

I  would  take  the  yeast  and  water, 
Salt  and  flour — not  a  mite 

Too  much;  then  with  a  spoon  I'd  stir  it, 
In  a  bowl,  this  way  you  know; 

If  I  had  the  things  to  work  with, 
I,  the  way  would  quickly  show. 

In  a  nice  warm  place  I'd  put  it, 
It  would  get  all  foam  and  light, 

Then  I'd  stir  it  stiff  with  flour, 
And  I'd  knead  it  with  my  might. 

Then  again  it  raised  all  even, 
Oh,  the  pretty  loaves  I'd  make, 

In  the  pans,  then  in  the  oven, 
I  would  put  them  all  to  bake. 

Little  Sarah,  Lincoln's  sister, 

Made  their  bread  a  different  way, 

Just  some  meal  and  salt  and  water, 
They  would  likely  bake  each  day. 


Abraham     Lincoln         19 

And  the  oven  that  they  baked  in, 

Like  a  kettle,  big  and  round, 
Closed  it  tightly  with  a  cover, 

Then  the  fireplace  they  found. 

Hung  it  on  a  hook,  just  over, 

Where  the  logs  would  crack  and  burn, 

And  this  way  they  did  their  baking, 
It  seems  queer  when  back  we  turn 

To  the  days  of  Lincoln's  childhood, 

Oh,  so  many  things  we  find, 
Showing  they  endured  such  hardships, 

So  this  picture  keep  in  mind. 


20  TheLifeof 

Clothes  of  Lincoln's  Boyhood 

A  lad  of  ten  we  find  him  tall, 
And  strong  beyond  conception; 

The  things  he  used  were  very  crude — yes,  all, 
And  clothes  were  no  exception. 

Of  buckskin  were  his  trousers  made, 

And  not  quite  to  the  ankle; 
His  shirt  of  tow,  a  dark  brown  shade, 

Such  clothes  would  make  you  rankle. 

Of  racoon  skin,  he  had  a  cap, 
The  tail  used  for  the  trimming, 

Hung  in  a  tassel — yet  this  chap 
Was  full  of  goodness  brimming. 

Of  shoes  our  Lincoln  never  knew, 

Until  a  man  we  find  him; 
We'd  think  his  chances  very  few, 

Yet  these  could  never  bind  him. 

It  proves  the  clothes  don't  make  the  man, 

Or  boy — it  is  ambition; 
Just  follow  Lincoln's  life  and  plan, 

To  gain  some  high  position. 


Abraham     Lincoln         21 
P  I  O  N^E  E  R      DAYS 

Three  Legged  Stools 

Did  you  ever  see 

How  it  would  be 
On  a  three  legged  stool  to  sit? 

If  you  think  you  can, 
Just  try  the  plan — 

You  will  find  it  doesn't  quite  fit. 

In  Pioneer  Days 

They  had  queer  ways, 
They  used  what  ever  they  had. 

There  were  only  three 
Legs  you  see 

On  a  stool  when  Abe  was  a  lad. 


Washing  Clothes 

When  we  wash  clothes,  we  have  a  tub; 

I  have  seen  my  mother  rub 
The  clothes  all  white — a  wringer,  too, 

She  turns  and  puts  the  clothes  all  through. 

But  years  ago — so  people  say — 
They  used  a  trough  the  very  way 

We  do  a  tub — or  else  they  took 

Their  clothes  and  washed  them  in  the  brook. 


22  Abraham     Lincoln 

Ploughs 

Our  ploughs  are  made  of  steel, 

Some  use  a  tractor  strong; 
But  years  ago  the  ploughs  were  wood, 

Yet  they'd  go  right  along. 

We'd  think  it  was  too  slow, 

For  they  used  oxen  then; 
But  don't  you  think  the  way  they  worked 

Made  stronger,  better  men? 

Mirrors 

Did  you  ever  look  in  a  bright  tin  pan? 

Just  try  it  once,  and  you'll  find  you  can 
See  your  face — just  like  you,  too — 

Almost  as  well  as  a  mirror  can  do. 

Of  course  it  won't  be  quite  as  clear, 
And  you'll  use  a  mirror  if  it's  near. 

They  used  a  pan  that  very  way, 
In  frontier  life  in  Lincoln's  day. 

Exchange  of  Goods 

They  had  so  little  money 

When  Lincoln  was  a  lad, 
They  just  exchanged  the  things  they  raised; 

Twas  queer  the  ways  they  had. 

They'd  take  the  eggs  or  butter, 

Or  corn,  or  wheat  to  pay 
For  what  they  needed  at  the  store, 

And  paid  for  things  that  way. 


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24 


The     Life     of 


IDEAL   PORTRAIT  OF   NANCY   HANKS 


'All  that  I  am  or  ever  hope  to  be,  I  owe  to  my  mother." 

— Abraham  Lincoln. 


Abraham     Lincoln         25 

Death  of  Lincoln's  Mother 

On  a  dreary  day  in  autumn,  when  our  boy  was  ten  years  old, 
Angels  came  and  took  his  mother — took  her  to  the  Father's 
fold. 
But  before  the  angels  took  her,  she  called  Abraham,  her  son, 
Saying,   "Now,  my  boy,  I  leave  you,  but  be  good  when  I 
am  gone. 
Help  your  father — care  for  sister — live  as  mother  taught  you  to; 
For  our  Father  calls  me  to  him,  and  dear  boy,  I'll  have  to  go." 

So  when  Autumn  leaves  were  falling,  in  a  cabin  filled  with  love, 
Nancy  Lincoln   left  her  dear   ones — went   with   angels   up 
above. 
With  his  own  hands  Thomas  Lincoln,  a  rude  box,  a  coffin  made, 
It  was  all  they  could  do  for  her — then  they  placed  her  'neath 
the  shade 
Of  a  tree  that  she  had  chosen  while  in  life,  for  she  was  brave. 
There  they  placed  her,  'neath  the  grasses — such  was  Lincoln's 
mother's  grave. 

But  poor  Abraham  was  saddened,  and  though  he  was  but  a  lad, 
He  did  want  a  funeral  sermon,  just  the  same  as  others  had. 
So  he  took  his  precious  speller,  tore  from  it  the  one  white  sheet, 
Made  the  red  ink  from  the  berries,  he  all  obstacles  would 
meet. 
Then  he  took  a  turkey  feather,  and  his  father  made  a  pen, 
And  he  wrote  his  childish  letter  with  the  berry  juice,  and 
then 

Sent  it  on  to  David  Elkin — he  had  preached  for  them  before, 
When  they  lived  back  in  Kentucky,  and  for  him  respect  he 
bore. 


26  TheLifeof 

As  the  mails  were  rudely  carried — passed  from  one  to  others' 
hands, 
It  tooks  months  for  it  to  travel  back  o'er  all  the  wooded 
lands, 
But  the  child  with  patience  waited  with  the  childish  faith  in 
God, 
Taught  him  by  his  angel  mother,  lying  now  beneath  the  sod. 

Through  the  winter  months  he  waited,  when  the  spring  was 
past  and  gone, 
David  Elkin  came  there  to  them,  traveling  through  the  woods 
alone. 
Ah,  this  precious  letter  reached  him,  written  by  the  childish 
hand, 
Guarded  by  the  God  in  Heaven  as  it  traveled  o'er  the  land. 
So  beneath  the  spreading  branches,  standing  by  the  mother's 
grave, 
Words  were  given  to  the  lonely,  and  it  helped  them  to  be 
brave. 

And  two  hundred  friends  were  gathered,  for  they  of  this  letter 

learned; 
They  all  needed  words  of  comfort — for  God's  truth  their  hearts 

had  yearned. 
Years  went  by,  a  man  we  find  him  standing  there  beside  the 

mound, 
For  it  always  gave  him  comfort,  when  this  spot  he  sought 

and  found. 
And  with  eyes  to  heaven  lifted,   from  his  heart  these  words 

flowed  free, 
"I  owe  to  my  angel  mother,  all  I  am  and  hope  to  be." 


Abraham     Lincoln         27 

Lincoln's  Verse 

"He  practiced  what  he  preached,"  we  say, 
And  you  will  wonder  just  the  way. 

I  know  that  only  when  a  boy, 
'Twas  principle  that  gave  him  joy. 

His  character  was  one  of  note, 

When  very  young  these  lines  he  wrote: 

"Good  boys  who  to  their  books  apply, 
Will  all  be  great  men  by  and  by." 

He  surely  wrote  just  what  he  meant, 
For  he  became  our  President. 


28  TheLifeof 

Lincoln's  Boyhood  Work 

When  Lincoln  was  a  little  boy  and  only  ten  years  old, 

He  chopped  the  great  trees  down  with  skill,  right  in  the 
snow  and  cold. 

He  cut  the  elm,  and  linn  brush,  'twas  used  the  stock  to  feed, 
He  drove  a  team  of  oxen  and  he  plowed  in  time  of  need. 

He  then  the  sickle  wielded — threshed  wheat  with  just  a  flail; 
And  then  he  fanned  and  cleaned  it  with  a  sheet — without  a 
wail. 
I  tell  you  boys  'twas  pretty  tough  for  Abraham  to  do 

All  these  things  when  but  a  boy — no  play  when  he  was 
through. 

And  so  he  swung  the  axe  and  worked  'till  he  was  twenty-three, 
And  never  had  a  chance  to  go,  or  e'en  a  circus  see. 

But  the  surprise  I  have  in  store,  I  wonder  what  you'll  say — 
He  was  paid  in  cents,  not  dollars,  and  'twas  twenty-five  a 
day. 

And  all  the  time  the  twenty-five  a  day  that  he  did  earn, 
Was  paid  right  to  his  father,  and  he  was  very  stern. 

So  when  we  think  our  work  is  hard,  look  back  at  Lincoln's  day; 
We'll  find  our  work  is  nothing  then  and  it  will  seem  just 
play. 


Abraham     Lincoln         29 
Lincoln's  Step-Mother 

The  angel  mother  so  gentle  and  mild, 

Left  a  lasting  impression,  we  find,  on  the  child; 

And  now  another  great  change  in  his  life, 

One  came  to  help  him  through  hardship  and  strife. 

For  God  in  his  wisdom  looked  down  from  above, 
And  sent  them  a  mother  so  filled  with  love, 

She  cheered  the  home  that  lonely  she  found; 
Things  changed  for  Lincoln  all  around. 

An  orphan  boy — a  cousin  small, 

She  found  with  Sarah  and  Abe — but  all 
Received  her  mother  love  the  same, 

And  her  three  children  with  her  came. 

For  the  cabin  they  now  had  a  "puncheon  floor," 
She  took  down  the  deer  skin  they  used  for  the  door. 

And  a  wooden  one  took  the  place  of  the  skin, 
Glass  went  in  the  windows  to  let  the  light  in. 

A  table  and  chairs  with  her  things  she  brought, 

A  bureau  with  drawers,  and  a  great  change  was  wrought; 

For  the  bureau  was  packed  full  clear  to  the  brim, 

And  she  brightened  the  home  that  before  had  been  dim. 

She  brought  clothing  and  bedding,  and  dishes  and  knives 
And  forks — all  combined  made  a  change  in  their  lives, 

And  she  made  up  her  mind  to  give  Abe  a  fair  chance, 
For  she  saw  his  brightness  all  at  a  glance. 


30  TheLifeof 

"She  was  a  noble  woman,  loving  and  good," 

These  words  were  Lincoln's,  and  he  understood 

What  it  meant  to  have  some  one  care  for  him, 

For  they  had  been  lonely  and  the  home  light  dim. 

And  she  quickly  won  the  heart  of  the  lad; 

She  worked  very  hard  and  never  was  sad. 
And  now  Lincoln's  evenings  were  all  his  own, 

To  read  and  study,  which  before  was  unknown. 

"He  never  gave  me  a  cross  word  or  look," 
She  was  heard  to  say — "Oh,  the  pride  I  took! 

And  anything  I  asked  him  to  do, 

He  was  always  willing  and  wanted  to." 

How  proud  was  this  mother,  when  he  ruler  became, 
And  gave  her  the  loyal  true  love  just  the  same, 

As  he  did  in  the  cabin  so  humble  and  small, 
His  mother  so  patient,  to  one  and  to  all. 


Abraham     Lincoln         31 
A  Spelling  Match 

A  spelling  match  was  held  in  school, 

When  Lincoln  was  a  lad; 
They  were  arranged,  half  on  each  side, 

Then  a  spelling  lesson  had. 

When  any  of  them  missed  a  word, 

Right  to  their  seats  they  went; 
Then  they  would  see  which  line  would  win. 

Who  first  to  seats  were  sent. 

The  word  "defied"  was  given  out, 

A  girl  had  it  to  spell; 
She  was  a  special  friend  of  Abe's 

He  liked  her  very  well. 

She  got  to  "d--e--f--,"  and  then, 

What  next — an  "i"  or  "e"? 
She  was  not  sure  just  what  it  was, 

Just  what  it  ought  to  be. 

Now  Abe  was  watching  all  the  time, 

And  when  she  looked  that  way, 
He  put  his  finger  to  his  eye 

And  she  knew  what  to  say. 


32  TheLifeof 

Cost  of  Lincoln's  Trousers 

How  many  yards,  my  boys,  will  it  take, 
For  you  a  pair  of  trousers  to  make? 

You  never  have  thought,  so  how  could  you  tell? 
When  Lincoln  was  young  he  figured  it  well. 

The  trousers  he  wore — made  of  flax  and  of  tow, 
Were  cut  tight  at  the  ankles  but  never  below. 

The  family  was  poor  and  had  little  means, 

So  he  paid  for  his  trousers  made  of  brown  jeans. 

For  every  yard  these  trousers  took, 

Four  hundred  rails  he  split — now  look, 

And  find  how  many  rails  'twould  take 
To  pay  for  yours,  how  many  you'd  make 


But  Lincoln  was  tall  when  he  was  a  boy; 

Oh,  the  goods  that  it  took — yet  to  him  it  was  joy 
To  split  rails  for  the  making  and  for  one  pair,  they  say 

One  thousand  four  hundred,  he  made  for  the  pay. 


Abraham     Lincoln         33 

How  Lincoln  Studied 

The  schools  we  have  today,  use  paper,  pen  and  ink; 

What  would  we  do  without  them,  we  never  stop  to  think. 
Though  Lincoln  did  not  have  them,  he  learned  his  lessons  right, 

To  see  the  way  he  studied,  was  surely  a  queer  sight. 

Today  they  can  make  paper  from  certain  kinds  of  wood, 
They  go  right  in  the  forests,  that  have  for  ages  stood. 

Now  Lincoln  used  the  wood,  but  how  I'll  have  to  tell, 

'Twas  not  the  same  of  course,  but  served  the  purpose  well. 

And  by  the  grate  he  studied,  where  burning  logs  shone  bright, 
The  logs  they  used  were  large  ones,  and  they  would  burn 
all  night. 

Up  to  the  fireplace  they  hauled  them  with  a  team, 

Opened  the  door  and  put  them  in,  the  fire  then  would  gleam. 

The  shovel  made  of  wood,  was  crude  like  all  the  rest, 
It  served  a  double  purpose — so  wood  we  find  was  best. 

He  used  it  as  our  parents  in  old  times  used  a  slate, 

For  pencil  he  used  charcoal,  he  took  it  from  the  grate. 

Clear  up  to  the  handle  tip  he  figured  with  great  care, 
But  even  on  a  shovel  there  was  no  room  to  spare. 

He  then  would  take  a  jack  knife,  and  whittle  it  all  white, 
This  is  the  way  our  Lincoln  his  lessons  learned  to  write. 

So  when  you  boys  are  lucky  and  a  piece  of  charcoal  find, 
Just  take  a  piece  of  wood  and  figure,  Lincoln's  kind, 

Then  whittle  off  these  figures,  and  you  will  stop  to  think, 
The  blessing  that  they  brought  us,  in  finding  pen  and  ink. 


34  TheLifeof 

The  First  Book  Lincoln  Owned 

The  books  our  Lincoln  found  to  read, 

Were  very,  very  few; 
The  Life  of  Washington  was  one 

Of  the  first  books  he  knew. 
A  Mr.  Crawford  owned  the  book, 

And  lived  some  miles  away, 
But  Lincoln  walked  out  to  his  home 

And  borrowed  it  one  day. 

He  read  and  studied  every  page, 

This  noble  life  so  grand; 
Oh,  he  would  copy  this  great  man, 

For  honor  he  would  stand. 
Before  he  finished  all  the  book, 

(He  used  to  read  at  night) , 
A  heavy  storm  came  through  the  roof 

And  left  the  book  a  sight. 

If  you  have  seen  a  nice  new  book, 

All  wet  with  falling  rain, 
You'll  know  how  Lincoln  must  have  felt, 

His  feelings  will  be  plain. 
But  Lincoln  was  a  manly  boy, 

And  went  that  very  day, 
And  told  him  he  had  spoiled  the  book 

But  he  would  gladly  pay 

For  it  by  any  work  he  had; 

He  surely  did  regret 
This  lovely  Life  of  Washington 

Was  spoiled  by  getting  wet. 


Abraham     Lincoln         35 

And  so  the  owner  told  him,  he 

Could  work  four  days  for  pay, 
And  as  the  book  was  spoiled  for  him, 

He  no  more  claim  would  lay. 

The  book  would  then  be  Lincoln's, 

Ah,  what  a  happy  look 
The  boy  gave  Mr.  Crawford,  for 

He  now  would  own  a  book. 
So  he  worked  at  pulling  fodder, 

The  rain  had  brought  him  joy; 
He  now  would  really  own  a  book, 

He  was  a  lucky  boy. 


Entertainment  of  Lincoln's 
Pioneer  Days 


38  TheLifeof 


Shucking  Corn 

They  had  great  fun  in  shucking  corn, 

Way  back  in  early  days, 
The  corn  they'd  gather  from  the  field, 

In  just  old  fashioned  ways. 

They'd  walk  along  and  pluck  the  ears, 

And  in  a  wagon  then, 
Would  throw  them  as  they  walked  along, 

The  boys  would  help  the  men. 

Then  to  the  barn  they'd  drive  the  team, 

And  store  the  corn  away, 
And  when  the  corn  was  gathered  in, 

The  fun  would  come, — and  say, 

A  shucking  bee  they  then  would  have, 

And  come  from  far  and  near; 
They'd  shuck  the  corn  and  then  they'd  dance, 

The  work  was  filled  with  cheer. 

And  old  time  dances  they  would  have, 

The  fiddler  did  his  part; 
And  often  in  those  shucking  bees 

They  won  each  other's  heart. 

Log  Rollings 

Log  rollings  we  do  not  have  today, 
You  wonder  what  they  are,  you  say? 

There  were  houses  of  logs  some  years  ago, 

For  those  who  lived  in  the  woods  you  know, 

Where  trees  were  found  and  where  they  could 
Build  houses  of  logs,  they  always  would. 


Abraham     Lincoln         39 


They  did  not  have  the  mills  those  days, 

So  had  to  figure  other  ways. 
They  used  the  logs,  for  they,  you  see, 

Could  not  make  lumber  from  the  tree. 
They'd  "fell  the  trees,"  that's  what  they'd  say — 

And  then  would  trim  the  limbs  away. 

And  hew  them  so  the  logs  would  fit; 

The  logs  were  whole,  they  were  not  split. 
When  the  logs  were  done,  they'd  come  with  teams, 

And  haul  the  logs — it  really  seems 
Impossible,  but  it  is  so, 
To  help,  the  neighbors  all  would  go. 

The  logs  were  on  each  other  placed, 

And  carefully  each  one  was  spaced, 
And  when  the  cracks  between  would  show, 

They'd  "chink"  them  up  with  moss  you  know, 
And  soon  the  house  would  be  complete, 

The  house  of  logs  was  very  neat. 

And  so  they  built  their  homes  this  way; 

They  had  no  money  for  the  pay, 
And  so  they  helped  each  other  then, 

Each  one  would  cut  his  logs — the  men 
Would  gather  then  from  far  and  near, 

And  each  new  house  went  up  with  cheer. 


40  TheLifeof 

Quilting  Bee 

The  Quilts  that  grandma  used  to  make, 

Are  getting  very  rare, 
For  all  those  stitches  that  she  took, 

Were  put  in  with  great  care. 

The  tiny  pieces  she  would  take, 
And  make  in  blocks  you  know, 

Of  some  design  or  else  'twould  be 
She'd  place  them  in  a  row. 

But  when  the  blocks  and  rows  were  made, 

And  they  together  went, 
It  must  be  quilted,  so  you  see, 

To  friends  the  word  was  sent. 

And  all  the  ladies  then  would  come, 

And  have  a  quilting  bee; 
Those  tiny  stitches  they'd  put  in — 

Look  at  a  quilt  and  see 

Those  many,  many  stitches  there, 

They  put  in  every  one, 
And  when  the  quilt  was  all  complete, 

The  men  of  course  would  come. 

Then  the  fiddler  played  and  they  would  dance, 

And  this  is  just  the  way, 
The  young  folks  all  enjoyed  themselves 

Way  back  in  Lincoln's  day. 


Abraham     Lincoln         41 
Dancing 

The  dancing  was  for  one  and  all, 

When  they  should  hear  the  fiddler's  call, 

And  in  the  barns  and  houses  meet, 

And  friends  and  neighbors  they  would  greet. 

The  quilts  they'd  make,  or  corn  they'd  husk, 
Then  they  would  dance  the  "Money  Musk." 

Perhaps  'twould  be  "Virginia  Reel," 

When  forth  the  fiddler's  notes  would  peal. 

The  ladies'  gowns  were  calico, 

The  men  were  dressed  in  jeans  or  tow, 

They  wore  no  shoes  of  any  kind, 

Though  all  enjoyed  the  fun  you'd  find. 

They  looked  for  happiness,  not  gloom; 

The  candles  lighted  up  the  room, 
And  many  evenings  thus  were  spent, 

And  blithe  and  gay  they  homeward  went. 

(This  is  to  be  recited  to  the  music  of  the  "Money  Musk.") 


42  TheLifeof 

His  First  Dollar 

When  Lincoln  in  the  White  House  sat — so  stately  and  so  tall, 
He  would  of  boyhood  often  tell,  would  of  the  past  recall; 

And  to  a  friend  one  day  he  told  of  his  first  dollar  earned, 
And  what  this  dollar  meant  to  him — a  lesson  he  had  learned. 

He  built  a  raft  so  he  could  take  his  produce  off  to  sell 

The  river  was  quite  near  his  home  and  he  could  do  it  well. 
The  raft  all  done,  he  eyed  it  close — could  he  improvements 
make? 
Two  barrels  it  would  hold  quite  well — and  that  was  all 
he'd  take. 

So  while  he  stood  there  studying,  two  men  stopped  him  to  ask, 
Whose  raft  it  was,  'twas  surely  good,  and  would  he  like  the 
task 
Of  taking  them  and  their  two  trunks  out  where  the  steamboat 
lay, 
For  steamboats  had  no  place  to  dock  as  those  do  of  today. 

Glad  of  the  chance  he  loaded  men  and  trunks  upon  the  raft, 
The  men  then  used  the  trunks  for  seats,  for  small  they  found 
the  craft; 
But  Lincoln  sculled  them  all  the  way — he  showed  his  strength 
and  skill. 
Their  heavy  trunks  he  lifted  up — and  how  his  heart  did 
thrill. 

The  steamer  was  about  to  start,  and  they  forgot  to  pay, 
So  Lincoln  called  and  told  them,  in  his  manly  boyish  way, 

Then  each  one  from  his  pocket  took  a  piece  of  silver  bright, 
And  two  half  dollars  tossed  the  boy — two — was  he  surely 
right? 


Abraham     Lincoln         43 

For  he  had  never  dreamed  that  they  would  give  him  such  a  price, 
It  was  his  own,  and  honestly  he'd  earned  it — oh,  how  nice. 

And  when  in  later  years  of  life  he  President  became, 

He'd  tell  of  his  first  dollar  earned — was  proud  then  just  the 
same. 

"Gentlemen,"  he  said  one  day,  "you  may  think  it  only  small, 
'Twas  most  important  of  my  life — and  still  I  oft  recall, 
The  world  seemed  kinder  to  me  then  and  fairer  than  before, 
It  gave  me  confidence  and  hope  for  what  life  had  in  store." 


44  TheLifeof 

Lincoln's  First  Sight  of  Slavery 

In  the  year  of  1831 

On  a  flat  boat  Lincoln  went 
To  New  Orleans — a  river  trip — 

And  there  a  month  he  spent. 

He  witnessed  there  for  the  first  time, 

The  negroes  bought  and  sold, 
And  when  he  saw  them  whipped  and  scourged, 

It  made  his  blood  run  cold. 

The  poor  things  were  together  chained, 

And  driven  on  the  stand, 
Then  treated  like  the  animals 

Down  in  this  cotton  land. 

He  saw  the  auction  where  the  slaves 

Were  being  sold  one  day; 
A  nice  mulatto  girl  was  there, 

And  this  is  just  the  way 

They  sold  the  girl:  they  pinched  her  flesh, 

'Twas  solid — she  was  strong, 
And  then  did  trot  her  up  and  down 

As  a  horse  would  run  along. 

They  sold  the  girl  to  any  who 

The  highest  price  would  pay. 
Young  Lincoln  could  not  stand  the  scene 

And  so  he  moved  away. 


Abraham     Lincoln         45 

He  could  not  see  the  children  sold, 

Or  parents  have  to  part; 
The  scene  was  terrible  to  him, 

With  tears  his  eyes  did  smart. 

He  said  to  his  companion, 

"If  a  chance  I  ever  get 
To  hit  that  thing,  I'll  hit  it  hard"; 

That  crisis  Lincoln  met. 

'Twas  thirty  years  before  it  came, 

That  war  where  many  fought; 
But  when  it  came,  he  did  his  part, 

And  no  more  slaves  were  bought. 


46  TheLifeof 

Young  Lincoln's  Speeches 


When  Lincoln  was  young  he  could  make  a  speech, 

And  always  a  crowd  he  drew, 
Wherever  he  was,  on  the  farm  or  in  town, 

The  speeches  of  "Abe"  all  knew. 

No  matter  who  his  employers  were, 

And  his  father  thought  so  as  well, 
Their  work  was  more  important  to  them, 

Than  speeches  or  stories  he'd  tell. 

The  man  of  the  store  of  Gentryville, 

A  Louisville  paper  took, 
And  "Abe"  would  go  and  read  the  news, 

Then  to  "Abe"  the  rest  would  look. 

Then  he  would  mount  a  stump  and  speak, 

In  a  very  thrilling  way, 
Would  then  discuss  the  news  he  read, 

Or  poems  he  would  say. 

He  could  imitate  to  perfection,  and  preach 
Like  the  wandering  preacher  who  came, 

Would  with  variations  the  sermons  repeat; 
It  was  here  he  first  won  fame. 

They  would  throw  down  their  sickles  and  grass  they'd 
leave, 

Or  wood  they  were  cutting,  and  then, 
Whenever  "Abe"  would  start  to  talk, 

He  drew  the  boys  and  men. 


Abraham     Lincoln         47 

He  would  fifteen  miles  to  Boonville  walk, 

So  he  could  court  attend, 
And  then  come  home  and  from  a  stump 

Their  speeches  forth  would  send. 

In  later  years  no  wonder  then, 

That  he  could  beat  the  rest; 
His  oratory  always  won, 

His  stories  were  the  best. 


48  TheLifeof 

Lincoln  A  Peddler 

'Tis  often  when  some  chances  come,  we  see  them  pass  right  by, 
And  when  they're  gone  we  sit  and  look  and  mournfully  we 
sigh. 

But  for  example,  Lincoln's  life  just  study  and  you'll  find, 
No  chances  slipped  by  him  unseen — awake  we  find  his  mind. 

So  when  from  Indiana  to  Illinois  to  live  they  went, 

Young  Lincoln  drove  the  ox-team,   but  his  time  must  be 
well  spent; 
For  if  ever  it  takes  patience,  'tis  when  oxen  you  must  drive, 
But  to  master  all  these  lessons  he  would  work  and  he  would 
strive. 

So  he  gathered  all  the  money — it  was  thirty  dollars  saved, 
And   he   purchased   pins   and   needles,    thread   and   buttons 
people  craved; 
And  as  through  the  woods  he  traveled  he  would  to  the  people 
sell, 
And  he  pleased  them  with  his  frankness,  and  his  honesty 
as  well. 

So  the  long  and  dreaded  journey  brought  a  blessing  to  the  lad, 

He  made  another  thirty,  for  he  doubled  what  he  had; 
Thus  we  find  he  never  faltered,   though  his  tasks  were  hard 
to  do, 
If  we  have  the   "Lincoln  Spirit"   we'll  not  stop,  we'll  go 
right  through. 


Abraham     Lincoln        49 
Lincoln's  Honesty 

The  stores  they  had  in  Lincoln's  day, 

Were  run  in  such  a  funny  way; 
They  had  one  room  and  you  would  find, 

Most  anything  of  any  kind. 

But  it  was  all  in  country  style, 

And  their  queer  ways  would  make  you  smile. 
Just  one  big  counter  in  the  room, 

Yet  funny  tales  cheered  up  the  gloom. 

The  barrels  and  the  boxes  then, 

Were  used  for  seats  for  tired  men ; 
A  jolly  place  for  young  and  old, 

And  Lincoln  ran  this  kind  we're  told. 

From  wooded  ploughs  and  boots  you'd  find, 

Most  anything  of  any  kind; 
The  women  coming  to  the  store, 

Wore  shawls  and  bonnets  as  of  yore. 

And  they  would  walk  from  miles  away, 
For  teams  were  scarce  in  Lincoln's  day. 

One  day  a  woman  came  for  tea, 

'Twas  getting  dark  and  so  you  see 

The  figures  dull  on  the  old  scales; 

It  made  it  hard  to  figure  sales; 
But  next  day  Lincoln,  when  he  found 

He'd  charged  too  much,  he  went  around 


50  TheLifeof 

And  found  her  home  six  miles  away, 
But  he  must  give  her  back  the  pay, 

Six  and  a  quarter  cents  too  much — 

Now,  would  you  walk  six  miles  for  such 

A  trifle?  Yet  young  Lincoln  thought, 
It  was  not  honest,  she  had  bought 

The  tea,  and  he  should  make  it  right, 
So  to  her  home  he  walked  that  night. 

So  "Honest  Abe,"  they  would  him  call, 
And  "Honest  Abe"  was  loved  by  all; 

And  when  he  President  became, 

They  called  him  "Honest  Abe"  the  same. 


Abraham     Lincoln         51 

Lincoln  Captain  in  the  Black  Hawk  War 

Lincoln  had  a  frontier  life, 

One  of  hardship,  toil  and  strife. 
One  where  strength  did  always  count, 

As  he  worked  each  step  to  mount. 

The  Black  Hawk  trouble  now  was  plain, 

They  needed  some  recruits  again; 
So  Lincoln  answered  to  the  call, 

Would  do  his  best — would  give  his  all. 

The  companies  chose  their  captains  then, 

They  had  a  vote  from  all  the  men; 
Two  men  stood  up — one  on  each  side — 

They  did  not  names  on  ballots  hide. 

But  each  went  to  the  man  he  chose; 

Most  went  to  Lincoln,  but  when  those 
Others  saw  the  Lincoln  line, 

They  said,  "That  one  I'll  choose  for  mine." 

The  other  man  was  left  alone, 

To  Lincoln  all  the  men  had  gone: 
The  other  man,  though  widely  known, 

Had  not  the  disposition  shown. 

The  one,  though  humbly  bred,  was  right; 

Their  choice  filled  Lincoln  with  delight, 
And  so  he  said  that  he  believed 

This  recognition  he'd  received 


52  The    Life    of 


Gave  him  delight,  ah,  yes,  far  more, 
Than  he  had  e'er  received  before 

Or  since,  although  in  time  he  came 
To  be  our  President  of  fame. 

One  who  could  every  crisis  meet, 

Yet  with  a  smile  each  one  would  greet, 

Who  from  a  humble  captain  went 
Up  step  by  step  to  President. 

But  though  no  action  ever  came, 

They  loved  their  captain  just  the  same. 

A  comrade  he  was  of  the  best, 
In  story  telling,  beat  the  rest. 


Abraham     Lincoln        53 

The  Post  Office  Lincoln  Kept 

In  every  city  in  our  land,  or  village  small,  I  understand, 

A  building  you  will  always  find,  that  handles  mail  of  every 
kind. 
Our  Uncle  Sam  is  wise  you  know,  his  very  work  will  always 
show, 
But  he  was  young  in  Lincoln's  day,  and  handled  mail  in  a 
queer  way. 

They  had  no  stamps,  because,  you  see,  "I  paid  for  letters  sent 
to  me." 
The  price  was  high,  and  letters  rare,  and  they  were  sent  with 
greatest  care; 
Though  not  a  building  you  could  see,  you  wonder  how  these 
things  could  be, 
But  Lincoln  was  a  postman  too,  of  course  he  knew  just  what 
to  do. 

He  saved  much  time  in  his  queer  way — he  put  them  in  his  hat, 
but  say, 
He  had  to  "tip  it"  with  great  care,  but  "tipping  hats"  was 
very  rare. 
He  carried  letters  'till  he  found  the  owners,  or  he  went  around 
And  left  them  at  their  homes  you  know,  and  promptness  he 
would  always  show. 

But  Uncle  Sam  was  poorer  then,  and  could  not  pay  the  price 
for  men 
To  carry  mail,  few  letters  came — expenses  counted  just  the 
same; 


54  TheLifeof 

But  Lincoln  in  his  honest  way,  did  not  forget  to  keep  the  pay 
He  had  collected;  it  was  gold — he  put  it  in  his  stocking  old; 

And  there  it  lay,  the  years  went  by,  then  came  the  men,  of 
course  they'd  try, 
To  get  it,  but  they  had  fears  that  he  had  used  it  all  these 
years, 
For  he  was  poor — they  did  not  know  that  he  such  principle 
would  show; 
But  when  he  paid  them — such  a  shock — he  brought  out  this 
old  woolen  sock. 


Abraham     Lincoln         55 


A  Surveyor 


When  Abraham  Lincoln  was  twenty-five, 

Surveyors  were  greatly  in  need; 
For  the  country  was  new  and  cities  to  build, 

And  work  must  progress  with  great  speed. 
So  Lincoln  was  asked  to  join  a  crew, 

Of  the  work  he  knew  nothing  at  all, 
But  he  took  the  book  and  mastered  the  rules, 

So  he  could  any  recall. 

It  took  him  six  weeks  the  problems  to  learn, 

And  then  with  the  money  he'd  saved, 
He  bought  saddle  bags,  a  horse,  a  compass  and  chain; 

A  new  frontier  life  he  now  braved. 
As  he  traveled  the  country,  he  made  many  friends, 

For  they  liked  him  where  ever  he  went; 
He  knew  woodcraft  far  better  than  any  one  there, 

Though  much  time  at  books  he  had  spent. 

He  could  judge  a  good  horse,  could  umpire  a  race, 

And  he  was  the  strongest  man; 
He  could  wrestle  and  leap  and  join  in  the  sport, 

Or  help  others  in  any  plan. 
Although  he  was  raised  away  in  the  woods, 

Of  coarseness  there  was  never  a  trace; 
His  language  was  clean — no  profanity  there — 

And  kindness  shone  from  his  face. 

He  did  not  have  a  boastful  way, 

But  joined  in  with  the  rest; 
In  all  the  country  far  and  near, 

They  liked  "Abe  Lincoln"  the  best. 
Surveying  helped  in  many  ways, 

Some  time  at  that  he  spent; 
It  gave  the  people  a  chance  to  know 

Whom  they  wanted  for  President. 


56  TheLifeof 

Lincoln  An  Obliging  Man 

Lincoln  was  always  ready, 

A  helping  hand  to  lend; 
Wherever  he  went  in  the  walks  of  life, 

He  always  made  a  friend. 

While  a  neighbor  or  friend  he  would  visit, 

He  would  for  the  children  care, 
And  the  cradle  would  rock  or  the  baby  would  tend, 

While  the  mother  the  meal  would  prepare. 

We  are  told  how  he  gave  up  his  bed, 

And  then  on  the  counter  slept, 
When  the  tavern  was  full,  that  he  might  oblige 

The  man  who  the  tavern  kept. 

He  would  chop  the  wood  for  the  widow, 

Or  help  any  way  that  he  could; 
No  wonder  in  all  of  New  Salem  he  found 

A  welcome,  go  where  he  would. 

No  wonder  that  every  housewife, 

Would  "put  on  a  plate"  for  him, 
Or  would  darn  his  socks,  or  mend  his  clothes, 

For  he  cheered  their  home  when  dim. 

It  was  just  a  part  of  his  nature, 

He  won  his  way  by  love; 
He  felt  for  all  in  his  own  true  way, 

With  a  spirit  like  Christ  above. 


Abraham     Lincoln        57 
Lincoln's  Home 

Miss  Mary  Todd  of  Kentucky, 

To  Springfield  came  one  day, 
To  visit  a  sister  who  had  married  and  gone 

From  the  home  nest  far  away. 

While  there  she  met  Mr.  Lincoln, 

They  soon  became  fast  friends, 
Their  friendship  grew  to  end  at  last 

The  way  it  often  ends. 

In  time  they  had  their  home, 

Though  small,  a  home  of  love; 
And  many  blessings  came  to  them, 

Sent  from  the  God  above. 

Three  children  came  to  add 

New  blessings,  and  to  make 
The  home  far  dearer  than  before, 

And  of  this  love  partake. 

The  first  one's  name  was  Robert, 

Then  Willie  joined  the  lad; 
Then  came  little  Thomas,  but 

They  always  called  him  Tad. 

The  angels  came  for  Willie 

And  took  him  up  above; 
'Tis  often  that  the  Master  calls 

The  ones  to  Him  we  love. 


58  TheLifeof 

This  sorrow  was  the  greatest, 
That  Lincoln  ever  knew; 

His  home  had  always  happy  been, 
Before,  his  joys  were  few. 

Robert  grew  to  manhood, 
A  captain  he  became 

In  the  great  war  of  the  nation, 
That  gave  his  father  fame. 

But  Tad  was  left  to  comfort, 
Though  he  was  very  small, 

Lincoln  kept  him  close  to  him 
When  cares  would  heavy  fall. 

He  seemed  to  take  great  comfort 
In  being  with  the  lad; 

He  never  found  his  work  too  hard 
To  stop  and  smile  at  Tad. 


Abraham     Lincoln        59 

Lincoln  As  A  Lawyer 

A  stranger  came  one  day  to  see 

The  Lawyer — to  have  him  make  a  plea. 
So  Lincoln  said,   "Your  case  please  state, 

And  all  particulars  relate." 
And  so  the  man  then  told  him  all, 

He,  Lincoln's  sympathy  would  call. 
"I  cannot  serve  you,  you  are  not  right," 

The  lawyer  said,  "I  will  not  fight 

A  case  like  that."     Then  said  the  man, 

"Is  it  not  your  business  if  I  can 
Pay  you  for  the  work  you  do, 

And  with  this  case  you  see  me  through?" 
"Not  my  business — don't  you  see, 

Though  I'm  a  lawyer  'twill  never  be 
To  defend  the  wrong,  and  I  fear 

That  you  are  wrong  is  very  clear." 

"Well,  you  can  surely  trouble  make, 

And  that  way  then  the  case  you  take." 
"No  doubt  that  I  could  win  for  you, 

But  that  thing  I  will  never  do. 
Distress  a  widow!     Six  children,  too, 

Without  a  father!     I  could  not  do. 
Six  hundreds  dollars  for  you  get, 

It  rightly  belongs  to  her,  and  yet 

You  want  me,  this  woman  to  sue? 

Never!  for  it  does  not  belong  to  you." 
Then  Lincoln  said,  "Not  for  any  pay 

Would  I  take  a  case  that  is  wrong  that  way. 
You  may  be  morally  wrong,  though  legally  right, 

But  I'll  give  you  a  piece  of  advice — you  might 
Be  sprightly,  energetic,  but  you  it  will  pay, 

To  make  six  hundred  another  way." 


60  TheLifeof 

Lincoln's  Knife 

This  story  Lincoln  often  told: 

"In  the  cars  I  rode  one  day, 
While  on  a  circuit  trip, 

And  a  stranger  stopped  to  say, 

'An  article  of  yours  I  have 

In  my  possession  here, 
'Ah,  how  is  that?'  I  asked,  of  course 

Surprised  I  did  appear. 

Then  a  jack  knife  from  his  pocket 
He  drew — 'This  knife,'  said  he, 

'Was  placed  in  my  hands  some  years  ago, 
With  the  injunction  given  to  me 

To  keep  this  knife  'till  a  man  I  found 

Uglier  than  myself,  and  now 
I  have  carried  it  from  that  time  to  this,' 

He  presented  it  with  a  bow. 

He  smiled,  'You  are  fairly  entitled  to  the  knife, 

Sir,  allow  me  to  say'." 
This  knife  Mr.  Lincoln  cherished  and  kept, 

And  he  carried  it  from  that  day. 


Abraham     Lincoln         61 
Lincoln's  Rescue  of  a  Pig 

They  "rode  the  circuit"  in  Lincoln's  day, 

Why  not  a  horse  instead?  we  say; 
I  will  explain  and  you  will  see, 

What  "riding  a  circuit"  used  to  be. 

The  lawyers,  judge  and  jurymen, 

From  town  to  town  they  went  and  then 

In  each  town  held  the  court  one  day, 
And  formed  a  circuit — so  they  say. 

On  horseback  Lincoln  rode  one  day, 

Was  "riding  the  circuit"  they  would  say; 

His  clothes  were  new,  and  you  could  see. 
He  was  careful  of  them,  he  had  to  be. 

He  saw  a  slough  as  he  passed  by, 

A  pig  was  in  it  and  would  try 
Hard  to  get  out,  but  there  he  stuck 

Fast,  mired  in  the  mud  and  muck. 


And  Lincoln  looked — he'd  have  to  dig, 
And  spoil  his  clothes  to  save  the  pig 

So  he  rode  on — two  miles  he  went, 
His  mind  on  piggie  sure  was  bent. 

First  of  the  mired  pig  he  thought, 

Then  of  the  clothes  that  he  had  bought; 

The  thought  of  piggie  gave  him  pain, 
His  heart  could  never  stand  the  strain. 


62  TheLifeof 

The  pig  would  die  he  well  did  know, 
He  surely  would  more  courage  show. 

He  rode  back  and  the  pig  he  found, 

He  put  some  rails  down  on  the  ground, 

Climbed  in  and  pulled  the  poor  pig  out, 
The  pig  was  saved,  but  what  about 

The  clothes — he  stopped  to  view, 

For  they  were  spoiled,  this  well  he  knew. 

He  washed  his  hands  clean  in  the  brook, 
And  gave  the  pig  a  farewell  look, 

Yet  he  was  happy  when  he  found 
The  pig  was  safely  on  the  ground. 

And  to  a  friend  who  thought  him  kind 
He  said,  "'twas  selfishness;  you'll  find 

No  peace  of  mind,  was  my  belief, 
Unless  I  gave  the  pig  relief." 


Abraham     Lincoln         63 

Lincoln's  Famous  Horse  Trade 

A  pastime  queer  in  days  of  old, 

To  trade  and  banter,  we  are  told, 
And  Lincoln  was  like  all  the  rest, 

He  figured  well  to  get  the  best. 
It  furnished  merriment  for  all, 

They  all  were  ready  at  the  call. 
A  horse  trade  was  arranged  one  day 

By  Lincoln,  with  a  friend,  they  say. 

The  horse  should  be  by  neither  seen, 

Until  they  met  upon  the  green 
Of  the  old  courthouse,  and  the  square 

Was  one  where  all  the  fun  could  share. 
Should  either  fail  to  make  the  trade, 

Or  fail  to  keep  the  rules  they  made, 
Or  try  to  stop  in  any  way, 

He'd  five  and  twenty  dollars  pay. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  time  was  set, 

The  rules  were  strict  and  must  be  met, 
So  each  one  went  his  way  to  find, 

The  one  they  wished — their  choice  and  kind. 
At  nine  o'clock  the  judge  came  down 

The  road  that  led  straight  through  the  town; 
He  led  his  horse — it  was  a  sight, 

'Twas  blind — could  not  tell  day  from  night. 

It  was  so  poor  the  bones  you'd  see, 

A  swollen  bunch  was  on  each  knee; 
The  skin  hung  loosely  on  the  frame, 

The  horse  was  also  very  lame. 


64  TheLifeof 

Wild  shouts  of  laughter  and  of  cheer, 
Went  up  as  this  quaint  pair  drew  near, 

For  they  had  come  for  miles  around 
To  see  the  fun — and  fun  they  found. 

With  joy  they  waited  now  to  see 

The  kind  that  Lincoln's  horse  would  be, 
For  no  one  else  could  ever  find 

A  match  for  this — not  any  kind. 
Soon  Lincoln  followed  the  same  track, 

A  wooden  saw  horse  on  his  back; 
Just  ask  a  carpenter  to  show 

The  kind  he  uses — he  will  know. 

The  laugh  was  louder  than  before, 

As  he  came  down  the  road  and  bore 
His  horse;  and  as  his  horse  he  placed 

Beside  the  judge's,  then  he  faced 
The  judge,  and  in  his  own  droll  way 

"This  is  the  first  time  Judge,  I'll  say, 
That  I  was  beat  in  a  horse  trade, 

Though  many  in  my  life  I've  made." 


Abraham     Lincoln         65 
The  Rail  Candidate 


In  1860,  on  the  tenth  of  May, 

The  republican  convention  was  held  that  day, 
In  the  city  of  Decatur  for  Illinois  State, 

Lincoln  for  President  was  candidate. 
The  Illinois  Governer  held  the  chair, 

They  honored  him — for  he  was  fair. 
"Gentlemen,"  said  he,  "there  is  some  one  here, 

A  distinguished  citizen  whom  you  will  cheer; 
'Tis  pleasure  I  take  to  invite  him  with  me, 

A  place  on  the  platform  his  should  be." 


'Mid  great  applause  a  man  quite  tall, 

Received  the  cheers  from  one  and  all. 
He  was  lifted  above  the  heads  of  the  crowd, 

And  passed  along,  mid  cheers  that  were  loud. 
On  upraised  hands,  each  delegate 

Did  with  his  cheers  his  feelings  state; 
The  platform  reached,  he  gained  his  feet, 

Then  turned  to  his  fellowmen  to  greet; 
The  shouts  grew  louder  than  before, 

The  storm  of  cheers  grew  more  and  more. 

The  Governor  spoke — the  lull  was  slight, 

"Gentlemen  if  I  am  informed  aright, 
An  old  Democrat  outside  the  hall 

Is  waiting — has  something  to  present  to  you  all." 
"Let  him  in,  let  him  in,"  arose  the  shout; 

A  side  door  opened — then  from  without, 


66  TheLifeof 

An  Illinois  farmer,  wrinkled  and  old, 

Sunburned  and  gray  headed,  came  in  as  was  told. 

On  his  shoulders  he  carried  two  weather  worn 
Fence  rails — above  which  a  banner  was  borne 

Saying  "Abraham  Lincoln,  The  Rail  Candidate, 

For  President  In  1860,"  but  wait, 
"Two  rails  from  a  lot  of  3000  made 

In   1830— By  John  Hanks  and  Abe 
Lincoln."     These  with  cheers  they  did  greet, 

Threw  up  their  hats  and  stamped  their  feet, 
And  when  at  last  they  quiet  became, 

In  a  half  timid  manner  he  referred  to  the  same, 
"I  suppose  to  that  you  expect  a  reply, 

That  I  made  those  rails  I  don't  say  or  deny, 

But  I  am  sure  I  have  made  a  great  many  as  good." 

And  then  while  there  before  them  he  stood, 
He  told  of  the  first  year  in  Illinois  he  spent, 

Of  helping  his  father — on  his  task  he  was  bent. 
He  helped  build  the  cabin — plant  the  first  crop  of  corn 

He  was  not  ashamed  that  poor  he  was  born, 
But  he  could  do  other  things,  every  one  knew, 

These  things  were  many — not  merely  a  few; 
So  each  one  said  as  he  homeward  went, 

That  Abraham  Lincoln  should  be  President. 


Abraham     Lincoln         67 

The  Old  Lady's  Gift 

An  old  lady  who  knew  Mr.  Lincoln, 

And  near  his  home  did  live, 
Heard  he  was  elected  President 

And  she  must  a  token  give. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  very  busy 

When  a  caller  came  one  day; 
From  a  sunbonnet  shone  a  face 

That  smiled  in  a  motherly  way. 

The  face  was  tanned  and  wrinkled, 

But  the  face  was  one  of  song; 
She  brought  to  him  some  stockings, 

They  were  blue,  and  a  whole  yard  long. 

She  herself  had  knitted  these  stockings; 

Tears  came  to  the  eyes  of  the  man; 
To  the  White  House  he  said  he  would  take  them, 

He  smiled  down  at  the  face  of  tan. 

He  said  he  could  find  none  like  them, 

He  knew  they  were  of  the  best; 
Eyes  twinkling,  he  held  them  up, 

To  the  merriment  of  all  the  rest. 

Said  a  gentleman  in  the  company, 

"For  her  judgment  I've  great  respect, 
For  the  longitude  and  latitude  of  Lincoln 

She  has  surely  measured  correct." 


68  TheLifeof 

Lincoln  A  Temperance  Man 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  temperance  man, 

He  used  no  liquor — which  was  always  his  plan, 
And  when  he  was  there  in  the  official  seat, 

He  was  cordial  to  all  or  to  guests  he  would  meet; 
But  he  never  would  use  the  liquor  to  toast — 

Cold  water  his  beverage — and  but  few  could  boast 
Of  principle  enough  to  carry  them  through, 

And  follow  the  way  that  Lincoln  would  do. 

When  the  Republican  party  visited  him, 

And  of  his  election  told  him  with  vim, 
Of  course  by  the  custom  Lincoln  must  treat, 

Give  something  to  drink  to  the  friends  he  did  meet. 
So  to  the  servant  girl  Lincoln  spoke, 

Then  continued  to  tell  his  story  and  joke; 
But  when  she  returned,  to  the  surprise  of  the  rest, 

She  had  the  beverage  that  Lincoln  liked  best. 

A  large  waiter  she  brought  held  the  pitcher  and  glass, 

For  each  one  there,  and  these  she  did  pass; 
Then  addressing  the  guests  Lincoln  arose, 

"Gentlemen,  we  must  pledge  our  health  in  those 
Ways  I  have  always  had,  and  we  can 

Take  the  beverage  God  has  given  to  man, 
With  pleasure  to  all  this  beverage  I  bring, 

It  is  pure  Adam's  Ale,  God  sends  from  the  spring." 

So  saying,  he  a  tumbler  took, 

And  touched  to  his  lips  with  a  satisfied  look, 
And  pledged  to  them  his  highest  respects, 

In  a  cup  of  cold  water — which  always  reflects, 
The  principle  Abraham  Lincoln  had  shown, 

And  deeper  for  him  their  respect  had  grown; 
Joining  in  with  the  toast  their  confidence  grew, 

And  his  strength  of  character  every  one  knew. 


Abraham     Lincoln         69 

The  Lawyer's  Lesson 

A  court  was  held  in  Boonville,  to  try  a  murder  case, 

A  strange  thing  in  that  country  where  peace  reigned  in  the 
place. 

A  lawyer  from  Kentucky,  young  Breckenridge  by  name, 
Would  plead  the  case,  for  he  was  then  a  man  of  fame. 

A  lad  of  sixteen  summers,  those  many  miles  he  walked, 
To  hear  the  famous  trial  of  which  they  all  had  talked; 

His  eyes  were  wide  with  wonder — the  speech  was  very  grand, 
He  listened  to  the  pleading  to  the  jury  on  the  stand. 

And  when  it  all  was  over  and  he  passed  down  the  aisle, 
The  lad  went  to  the  lawyer  to  greet  him  with  a  smile; 

The  hand  held  out  was  hardened  and  tanned  with  honest  toil, 
His  clothes  were  coarse  and  showed  him  a  worker  of  the  soil. 

The  boy,  enthusiastic, — oh,  how  his  face  did  shine; 

He  told  this  great  young  lawyer  he  thought  his  speech  was 
fine. 
The   lawyer   stopped — surveyed   him — then    brushed   the   lad 
aside, 
As  from  the  poor  white  class,  for  he  had  too  much  pride 

To  mingle  with  the  lowly;  and  so  he  went  his  way, 
Ignored  the  boy  and  left  him — did  not  a  kind  word  say. 

It  hurt  the  lad,  for  ne'er  had  he  received  such  scorn, 

'Twas  honor  that  did  count — not  where  a  boy  was  born. 

The  lad  had  grown  to  manhood — our  ruler  he  became, 
A  lawyer  went  to  him  and  gave  to  him  his  name; 

Then  Lincoln  smiled  and  told  him  of  Boonville  and  the  day 
He  heard  him  speak,  how  glad  he  was,  and  then  the  way 

He  went  to  him  to  greet  him  because  it  gave  him  joy 
To  hear  so  grand  a  speech  when  he  was  just  a  boy; 

And  then  of  how  he  scorned  him  because  his  clothes  were  poor; 
The  lawyer  had  his  lesson  before  he  reached  the  door. 


70  TheLifeof 

Lincoln  and  Tad 

After  all  his  work  was  done, 

Lincoln's  greatest  joy, 
Was  romping  with  his  little  son; 

He  played  just  like  a  boy. 

He  joined  with  Tad  in  all  his  games, 
Through  the  halls  above  he'd  run, 

Playing  blind  man's  buff  with  Tad, 
He  joined  right  in  the  fun. 

They  each  in  turn  woud  driver  be, 
When  horse  they'd  often  play, 

Or  Tad  would  on  his  shoulder  sit 
And  have  a  ride  that  way. 

And  when  his  work  was  all  complete, 
And  he  would  stop  to  rest, 

He'd  have  Tad  come  and  talk  with  him, 
He  liked  that  way  the  best. 

Together  they  would  talk  of  things 
That  happened  on  that  day, 

Or  they  would  look  at  picture  books, 
And  pass  the  time  away. 

He  would  sharpen  pencils  for  the  lad, 
His  playthings  help  him  find; 

This  was  the  rest  the  ruler  found, 
And  he  preferred  this  kind. 


Abraham     Lincoln         71 

When  in  his  busy  office  he 

Would  find  the  boy  asleep, 
He  would  carry  him  across  the  hall, 

And  still  in  slumber  deep 

He'd  lay  him  on  his  little  bed 

As  a  loving  mother  might, 
And  anything  the  boy  would  do, 

He  seemed  to  think  was  right. 

And  when  his  cares  would  heavy  be, 

And  when  his  heart  was  sad, 
He  seemed  to  rest  and  to  forget 

If  he  could  be  with  Tad. 


72  TheLifeof 

Tad's  Tools 

I  don't  sec  why  there's  harm  in  my 
Using  tools  when  Tad  Lincoln  could 

For  he  had  the  joy  when  he  was  a  boy, 
Of  tools,  just  as  other  boys  should. 

The  mansion  as  well  as  the  stable  would  tell 

The  work  of  the  President's  son; 
He  drove  nails  one  day  in  the  desk  used  by  Hay, 

You  could  tell  where  his  work  had  been  done. 

In  the  Cabinet  Hall  where  the  meetings  they  call, 

For  a  bench  the  big  table  he  used; 
My  sister  would  say,  I  must  go  away, 

If  the  things  in  the  house  I  abused. 

Wish  I'd  been  Tad,  for  that  lucky  lad 
Had  no  sisters  to  scold  him  that  way; 

"What  next  will  he  do?" — the  whole  day  through, 
Was  all  they  ever  would  say. 

But  sad  to  relate  the  terrible  fate, 

The  tools  disappeared  one  night, 
For  the  famous  East  Room  was  meeting  its  doom, 

And  the  tools  vanished  out  of  Tad's  sight. 


Abraham     Lincoln         73 

Tad's  Orders  For  Rations 

The  cabinet  members  were  gathered, 

In  the  summer  of  '62, 
The  war  was  then  in  progress, 

There  was  plenty  of  business  to  do. 
The  President  sat  with  his  members, 

Great  care  was  portrayed  on  his  face, 
The  eyes  looked  out  of  great  hollows, 

Lines  came  which  none  could  erase. 

But  mingled  with  these  lines  of  sorrow, 

Was  the  love  which  all  understood. 
And  the  ruler  was  working  to  make 

The  Union  one  great  brotherhood. 
During  a  serious  question, 

Debated  by  one  and  by  all, 
Three  short  raps  were  followed 

By  two  thumps  on  the  door  of  the  hall. 

"Now  I  wonder  what  Tadpole  wants," 

The  President  was  heard  to  say, 
"That  is  the  telegraph  code 

I  taught  him  yesterday. 
Three  short  and  two  long,  this  way," 

And  he  drummed  it  so  all  could  see; 
"To  prevent  his  breaking  in 

Without  warning.     I'll  have  to  be 

True  to  my  word,  for  I  promised 

Never  to  go  back  on  the  code." 
But  Tad,  getting  very  impatient, 

Burst  into  this  quiet  abode. 


74  TheLifeof 

The  door  of  the  room  flew  open, 
To  the  father's  arms  rushed  the  boy, 

Cheeks  glowing,  eyes  flashing,  hair  flying, 
And  the  words  tumbled  forth  were  not  joy. 

In  excitement  he  jerked  out  the  story, 

For  fear  some  word  he  might  lose, 
"Papa  day,  the  kitchen  is  ours, 

And  can't  I  feed  the  boys  if  I  choose? 
There's  lots  of  'em  all  downstairs, 

And  they're  all  my  friends  you  see, 
Two  of  'em's  papa's  is  soldiers, 

And  we're  hungry  as  bears  can  be." 

"And  Peter  won't  let  us  in, 

And  mamma  is  gone  away, 
And  I  want  the  pies  and  things, 

Peter  had  left  yesterday." 
"How  many  boys  are  there  Taddie?" 

"With  me  there's  seven,  you  see, 
Two  soldier  boys,  Perry  and  Bobby, 

And  two  more — can't  Peter  mind  me?" 

"I  must  have  the  advice,"  said  the  ruler, 

"Of  you  cabinet  members  all, 
'Tis  a  case  of  diplomacy,  surely, 

To  hear  so  important  a  call." 
"This  house  belongs  to  the  nation," 

Said  Seward,  "just  loaned  you  these  years, 
But  we  can't  see  young  citizens  starving, 

Though  the  nation's  great  debt  gives  us  fears. 


Abraham     Lincoln        75 

For  the  ration  of  seven  boys  starving, 

The  ruler  an  order  must  write." 
Tad  rushed  from  the  arms  of  his  father, 

For  pencil  and  paper  white, 
Then  back  to  his  father  he  hastened, 

Who,  with  a  smile  wrote  a  line, 
"I  reckon  Peter  will  come  to  time  now,  son!" 

With  this  "order"  Tad  went  out  to  dine. 


76  The     Life     of 

Tad  Gets  His  Commission 

"My  boy,"  said  Stanton,  "would  you  like  to  be 

A  soldier  yourself,  so  you  could  see 
What  it  means  to  be  a  real  soldier  true, 

And  carry  the  flag — red,  white  and  blue?" 

"Do  you  mean  I'll  have  a  uniform,  too, 

And  straps  on  my  shoulders  like  big  soldiers  do? 

And  a  sword  and  brass  buttons,  and  everything 
That  the  life  of  a  soldier  is  sure  to  bring?" 

"Why,  yes,  I  think  all  the  trappings,  Tad, 

You  should  have,  and  the  pomp  of  your  rank,  then  my  lad 
You  should  muster  a  company,  and  drill  your  men, 

You'd  be  like  your  brother,  an  officer  then  " 

"Papa  day,  Papa  day,  oh,  do  you  hear?" 

Cried  the  boy,  full  of  excitement  and  cheer. 

Then,  as  doubt  entered  his  mind,  said  he, 
"Papa — he  isn't  laughing  at  me?" 

"No,  Tad,"  said  his  father,  rising  again, 

"He  is  not  laughing  at  you,  it  is  plain, 
But  to  make  sure  I'd  make  him  give  me 

A  real  commission,  then  a  soldier  you'll  be." 

"You  mean  a  paper  that  I  can  show 

That  I  am  a  soldier  and  people  will  know?" 

To  the  table  he  scrambled  for  paper  and  pen, 

A  small  boy  in  knickerbockers,  to  the  secretary  then. 


Abraham     Lincoln        77 

The  official  paper  Stanton  drew 

As  first  lieutenant — and  then  a  new 
Uniform  and  sword  must  go  to  the  lad, 

He  must  have  all  the  things  the  lieutenants  had. 

These  were  sent  to  the  White  House  mid  joy  and  cheers, 

To  Thomas  Lincoln,  aged  nine  years; 
Then  young  Tad  gave  a  smile  to  all, 

Clattered  out  of  the  door  and  down  the  hall. 

Said  his  father,  "I  reckon  you've  made  the  boy 

So  happy  by  giving  him  this  new  joy, 
This  place  won't  hold  him  for  awhile." 

"Don't  think  you'll  regret  it,"  said  he  with  a  smile. 


78  TheLifeof 

Tad — As  Lieutenant 

The  promise  was  kept  for  Lieutenant  Tad; 

Secretary  Stanton  completely  had 
Fulfilled  his  promise  to  provide 

The  "trappings"  which  Tad  viewed  with  pride. 

He  should  have  them  to  give  him  the  courage  and  vim, 
To  go  with  the  rank  now  conferred  on  him; 

From  the  arsenal  twenty-five  guns  were  sent 
To  the  very  youngest  lieutenant  they  went. 

Of  the  United  States'  Volunteers, 

Thomas  Lincoln,  aged  nine  years. 
These  were  to  be  in  the  basement  kept, 

He  could  guard  the  house  while  the  others  slept. 

A  room  near  the  laundry  was  all  his  own, 

His  headquarters  were  there  and  'twas  widely  known; 

Recruits  were  drafted  at  once  by  the  lad, 
The  gardeners  and  servants,  all  they  had, 

Were  duly  sworn  his  soldiers  to  be; 

They  were  loyal  to  him  you  could  plainly  see. 
Through  the  halls,   through  the  grounds,  they  were 
marched   and  drilled; 

With  joy  the  lieutenant's  heart  was  filled. 

One  evening  while  other  small  boys  slept, 
He  dismissed  the  regular  sentries  kept; 

His  company  he  placed  on  duty  then, 

He  guarded  the  house  with  his  own  drilled  men. 


Abraham     Lincoln         79 

They  were  doing  their  duty,  the  lieutenant  believed; 

By  a  deputy  special  they  were  later  relieved. 
The  uniform,  gloves  and  cap  were  his  pride, 

And  the  nice  bright  sword  that  hung  at  his  side. 

When  riding  an  evening  the  President  spent, 
On  his  pony  young  Tad  in  his  uniform  went, 

And  many  looked  on  with  joy  and  pride, 
To  see  the  President  and  Lieutenant  ride. 


80  TheLifeof 

Tad's  Goats 

The  White  House  always  welcomed 

The  visitors — many  came 
To  go  through  the  Nation's  Mansion, 

The  historical  rooms  of  fame. 

And  so  with  greatest  reverence 

For  the  country  and  ruler  as  well, 

Came  a  party  of  ladies  from  Boston, 
So  they  of  the  beauties  might  tell. 

They  viewed  the  frescoed  ceilings, 

The  paintings  that  hung  on  the  wall, 

The  furniture,  even  the  carpets, 
They  carefully  viewed  them  all; 

When  out  of  the  solemn  stillness, 

From  the  end  of  the  hall  came  a  bang, 

The  door  was  thrown  widely  open, 
And  a  little  boy's  voice  loudly  rang. 

The  horrified  ladies  stood  speechless, 
As  down  the  hall  came  the  boy, 

And  he  flourished  the  whip  he  was  holding, 
And  was  almost  bursting  with  joy. 


The  pair  of  goats  he  was  driving, 
Were  hitched  to  a  kitchen  chair, 

And  the  party  of  visitors  watched  him 
As  he  rapidly  drove  the  pair 


Abraham     Lincoln         81 

In  the  wonderful,  sacred  East  Room; 

He  flourished  his  whip  with  a  shout 
To  the  goats  he  was  skillfully  guiding, 

"Look  out  there,"  he  yelled,  "look  out." 

On  he  went  with  his  driving, 

The  front  door  reached  at  last; 
He  charged  down  the  front  steps  of  the  mansion, 

While  the  visitors  looked  aghast. 


82  TheLifeof 

Lincoln's  Letter  to  Tad 

"Dear  Tad — Poor  Nanny  goat  is  lost, 
There's  great  distress  about  it; 

My  boy  cheer  up — I  know  the  cost — 
What  will  you  do  without  it? 

The  day  you  left  and  went  away, 
Nanny  was  found  resting; 

She  chewed  her  cud  while  there  she  lay 
Your  nice  soft  bed  a  testing. 

She  went  around  and  flowers  destroyed- 
You  see  she  missed  you  Taddie — 

They  all  complained  that  she  annoyed; 
'Tis  sad  for  you  my  laddie. 

But  then  Poor  Nanny  disappeared 
One  night  while  we  were  sleeping, 

She's  gone  away,  we  all  have  feared, 
In  some  one  else's  keeping. 


Abraham     Lincoln         83 

Review  of  the  Potomac  Army 

To  the  great  Potomac  army, 

Which  was  sixty  thousand  strong, 
Lincoln  went  to  view  the  soldiers, 

Took  Lieutenant  Tad  along. 
Down  the  river  on  a  steamboat, 

Which  was  small,  the  party  went, 
And  from  thence  rode  in  a  freight  car 

All  bedecked  with  flags,  which  meant 

They  were  giving  to  their  ruler 

Whom  they  loved  the  very  best. 
On  the  rough  planks  used  for  benches 

Was  their  only  way  to  rest. 
Then  the  ambulance  received  them, 

And  with  cavalry  as  guard, 
They  went  on  to  the  headquarters, 

Ne'er  complained  the  trip  was  hard. 

For  five  days  they  were  encamped  there, 

Tad  explored  the  whole  first  day, 
Even  went  to  see  the  wounded, 

To  the  tents  in  which  they  lay. 
But  the  days  that  were  to  follow, 

Brought  new  pleasures  to  the  boy, 
For  he  then  reviewed  the  army, 

Rode  his  horse  with  pride  and  joy. 

While  the  Philadelphia  Lancers, 

Uniform  all  laced  with  gold, 
And  the  honor  guard  for  Lincoln 

Each  with  pride  his  horse  did  hold. 


84  The    Life    of 


In  the  cavalcade  were  generals 
Majors,  also  brigadiers, 


And  the  colonels  and  the  captains, 
Filled  the  soldiers'  hearts  with  cheer. 

To  one  side  and  with  an  escort, 

Could  be  seen  Lieutenant  Tad, 
On  his  horse  with  the  pride  and  honor 

Of  a  general,  rode  the  lad. 
To  the  thrill  of  martial  music, 

With  his  escort  at  his  side — 
Throbbing  drums  and  fife  and  trumpets, 

To  this  music  Tad  would  ride. 

How  the  soldiers  loved  their  ruler, 

How  they  loved  Lieutenant  Tad; 
'Twas  to  give  them  cheer  and  courage 

Lincoln  thought  and  took  the  lad. 
He  did  not  forget  their  children, 

Nor  forget  their  father  love; 
You  could  hear  the  prayers  of  many, 

"Send  him  blessings  from  above." 


Abraham     Lincoln         85 

Home  Life 

Clad  in  a  calico  dressing  gown, 

Not  reaching  his  ankles,  but  nearly  down, 
In  old  fashioned  slippers  of  leather  brown 

Which  showed  home  knitted  stockings, 

The  President  went  across  the  hall, 

From  the  room  where  Tad  was  asleep,  and  all 
Being  done,  he  would  his  cares  let  fall, 

He  would  read  while  he  was  resting. 

He  put  down  the  candle  and  closed  the  door, 
His  slippers  had  shuffled  along  the  floor 

Of  the  hall — but  now  in  his  room  once  more, 
Cares  fled  while  he  was  resting. 

He  sat  in  a  chair  with  a  book  in  his  lap, 

When  a  sound  was  heard  on  the  door,  tap!  tap! 

Ah,  Tad  had  awakened  from  his  nap, 
And  the  President's  features  brightened. 

The  bolt  of  the  door  he  slipped  aside, 

He  welcomed  Tad — arms  opened  wide — 

In  his  little  white  night  gown  was  Tad,  his  pride, 
And  the  boy  was  always  welcome. 

Ah,  many  a  night  the  boy  would  creep 
Across  the  hall,  with  his  father  to  sleep, 

Never  too  tired  his  boy  to  keep, 

Though  he  carried  the  cares  of  the  nation. 


86  TheLifeof 

The  Dying  Soldier  Lad 

'Twas  the  early  part  of  summer,  in  1863, 

The  war  was  raging  heavy,  that  set  the  negroes  free. 

Ah,  do  we  e'er  consider  the  sorrow  it  has  cost, 

The  suffering  of  the  soldiers,  of  those  whose  lives  were  lost? 

Though  Lincoln's  cares  were  many,  he,  work  aside  would  lay, 
And  go  and  see  the  wounded — would  each  a  visit  pay. 

He  gave  them  words  of  comfort,  of  sympathy  and  love, 

And  told  them  of  the  Father  that  watched  them  from  above. 

Their  pain  he  would  make  lighter  when  he  would  take  each 
hand, 

And  give  them  the  assurance  that  he  by  each  would  stand. 
The  wondrous  love  they  felt,  as  Lincoln's  eyes  they  met, 

And  many  soldiers  saw  their  ruler's  eyes  were  wet. 

A  soldier  boy  lay  dying — just  sixteen  summer's  old; 

Was  soon  to  meet  his  Master,  the  Shepherd  of  the  Fold, 
And  Lincoln  stood  beside  him,  his'  words  were  tender,  true, 

"Well,  my  poor  boy,"  he  said  "what  can  I  do  for  you?" 

The  boyish  face  then  brightened — "Write  mother,  please,  for 
me!" 
"Ah,  that  I  will,"  he  answered;  then  boyish  words  flowed 
free. 
And  with  a  pen  and  paper,  he  sat  beside  the  boy, 

Some  word  to  mother — the  boy's  heart  filled  with  joy. 

And  so  he  wrote  the  letter,  and  though  'twas  very  long, 
He  gave  no  signs  of  hurry,  the  words  to  him  were  song; 


Abraham     Lincoln         87 

The  mother's  heart  might  brighten — the  boy  was  staunch  and 
true, 
Would  die  to  save  the  flag  of  red,  and  white,  and  blue. 

He  'rose — with  love  questioned  in  a  tone  that  love  can  bring, 
"What  else  can  I  do  my  boy — do  you  wish  for  anything?" 

The  boy  looked  up,  eyes  pleading — he  knew  he'd  understand, 
"Please  won't  you  stay  with  me,  I  want  to  hold  your  hand?" 

Ah,   Lincoln  knew  the  meaning — those  words   were  far  too 
strong, 

He  took  the  precious  hand,  and  waited — waited  long. 
Two  hours  there  he  sat  with  love  as  for  a  son — 

No  wonder  that  respect  from  soldiers  Lincoln  won. 

And  when  the  angels  came,  and  took  with  them  the  lad, 
With  love  as  of  a  father,  his  big  heart  ached,  was  sad; 

The  boy's  arms  he  folded — then  Lincoln  burst  in  tears — 
'Twas  one  of  many  scenes  that  could  be  seen  those  years. 

No  matter  who  the  soldiers  were,  though  dressed  in  blue  or  gray, 
They  had  this  love  of  Lincoln's  that  helped  them  on  their 
way; 

And  many  stories  have  been  told  how  he  has  helped  the  sad, 
And  this  is  only  one — of  The  Dying  Soldier  Lad. 


88  TheLifeof 

Mr.  Lincoln  Believes  Himself  Homely 
Lincoln's  Own  Story 

A  gentleman  from  the  Cabinet  retiring, 

To  Lincoln  went  to  state, 
The  many  virtues  his  successor  had, 

Would  him  congratulate 

In  finding  one  so  fitted 

For  the  office,  so  he  told. 
Mr.  Lincoln  only  said, 

"For  the  office  he  shall  hold 

I  don't  doubt  he  is  very  efficient, 
Well  adapted,  and  all  you  say, 

Yet  there's  nothing  that  can  compensate  me, 
For  the  loss  I'll  have  to  pay. 

'Tis  a  fact  when  you  retire, 

My  sorrow  you'll  plainly  see; 

In  all  the  employment  of  the  government, 
The  homeliest  man  I'll  be." 


Abraham     Lincoln         89 

A  Little  Girl's  Judgment  of  Lincoln 

A  little  girl  to  the  White  House  went, 

With  her  father  to  make  a  call; 
She  had  heard  how  homely  Lincoln  was, 

She  saw  he  was  very  tall. 

Lincoln  took  her  on  his  knee, 

And  talked  in  his  merry  way, 
He  quickly  won  the  heart  of  the  child, 

She  turned  to  her  father  to  say, 

"Oh,  Pa;  he  isn't  ugly  at  all; 

He's  beautiful."     A  child  did  know, 
'Tis  not  the  features  that  count  at  all, 

But  the  heart  that  beats  below. 


90  TheLifeof 

The  Veteran 

A  veteran  came  hobbling  along  the  path, 

His  eyes  looked  far  away; 
His  cheeks  were  sunken,  he  was  very  pale, 

He  lived  just  day  by  day. 

He  halted  a  moment,  and  slowly  then, 

Approached  a  gentleman  tall, 
Who  was  walking  along,  "Good  morning,"  he  said- 

The  tall  man  saw  it  all. 

"I  want  to  ask  you  some  advice," 

He  heard  the  veteran  say, 
He  led  him  then  to  a  shady  seat, 

In  a  gentle,  kindly  way. 

He  listened  to  the  story  the  veteran  told, 

How  in  the  war  he  had  fought; 
How  to  apply  he  did  not  know, 

So  pension  to  him  would  be  brought. 

He  gave  him  his  papers,  which  the  gentleman  read, 

From  his  pocket  a  card  he  took, 
And  wrote  a  few  lines  in  a  quiet  way, 

And  gave  him  a  friendly  look. 

The  veteran  was  grateful — and  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
He  thanked  him,  'twas  all  he  could  say, 

As  he  handed  it  back  and  bade  him  good  luck, 
And  smiled  as  he  hurried  away. 


Abraham     Lincoln         91 

The  veteran  took  the  card  and  read, 

"To  the  pension  bureau:     See 
That  speedy  attention  this  veteran  shall  have." 

Ah,  who  could  this  gentleman  be? 

He  turned  the  card  and  read  the  name, 

These  words  to  his  lips  it  brought — 
"God  bless  him — he  never  forgets — I  am  glad 

For  the  country  and  Lincoln  I  fought." 


92  TheLifeof 

Lincoln  Views  the  Southern  Capitol 

'Twas  springtime,  and  the  sun  rose  above  the  southern  hills; 

The  air  was  filled  with  fragrance  which  the  blossom  always 
fills, 
And  the  butterflies  were  hovering  o'er  the  flowers  and  the  green, 

And  all  Virginia's  beauty  of  her  springtime  could  be  seen. 

But  Richmond  shook  with  terror  as  her  arsenals  were  blown; 

The  beauty  of  that  springtime  was  the  saddest  ever  known; 
The  magazines  of  powder  were  fired  with  the  rest, 

And  e'en  the  ironclads  were  blown,  though  they  were  of  the 
best. 

This  city  of  the  Southern  States  broke  forth  with  sudden  gloom, 
For  four  years  they  had  stood  the  storm  and  now  must  meet 
their  doom. 
The  boys  in  gray  marched  o'er  the  bridge  and  burned  it  as  they 
passed, 
For  four  long  years  the  soldiers  there  in  Richmond  had  been 
massed. 

The  seven  hills  of  beauty  were  fired  and  laid  low; 

'Tis  queer  how  quick  a  city  can  to  desolation  grow; 
Here  and  there  was  furniture  in  heaps  upon  the  grass, 

And  mothers  prayed  with  little  ones  that  trouble  soon  would 
pass. 

And  Richmond,  scarred  and  battle  torn,  with  forts  and  trenches 
'round, 
Was  full  of  sickness  and  starvation,  for  'twas  this  way  it 
was  found. 


Abraham     Lincoln         93 


The  stars  and  stripes  were  floated  there  above  the  city  brave; 
Four  long  years  they  had  prayed  and  hoped  the  stars  and  bars 
might  wave. 

This  was  the  city  Lincoln  found  when  he  to  Richmond  came; 
It  was  "The  Wondrous  Seven  Hills,"  some  called  it  by  that 
name. 
And  as  he  landed  from  the  barge,   Tad  clutched  his  father's 
hand, 
A  little  tot,  we  all  would  say,  to  see  that  stricken  land. 

The  negroes  came  to  see  the  man  who  helped  them  to  be  free; 
They  all  had  hoped  the  time  might  come  when  this  man  they 
might  see. 
But  Lincoln  smiled  and  tipped  his  hat,  though  the  smile  he  gave 
was  sad, 
And  from  his  eyes  the  warm  love  shone  for  the  city  wrecked 
so  bad. 

He  viewed  the  Southern  Capitol  with  Doric  columns  white, 
The  Virginia  Hall  Of  Delegates  of  which  so  many  write; 
Where  Stonewall  Jackson  lay  in  state — 'twas  just  two  years 
before, 
And  as  he  viewed  these  sacred  spots  his  heart  ached  more  and 
more. 

The  Executive  Mansion  Lincoln  viewed,   it  was  on  Shockoe 
Hill; 
He  saw  the  pillars  tall  and  white,  he  climbed  the  steps  and 
still 
With  little  Tad  right  by  his  side  he  waited  here  to  rest; 

How  many  brave  ones  had  been  here  and  fought  and  done 
their  best? 


94  TheLifeof 

And  then  he  went  to  where  the  Southern  women  brave, 

Had  cared  for  the  wounded  and  dying,  prayed  and  worked 
that  their  lives  they  might  save; 
And  the  rooms  where  the  women  had  scraped  the  lint — where 
uniforms  were  made, 
And   Libby    Prison    where    the   Blues    thru   heartaches   had 
to  wade. 

Ah,  long  he  stopped  with  great  respect,  at  the  statue  of  Wash- 
ington, 
Through  the  first  book  he  had  ever  owned  this  man  his  love 
had  won. 
He  gazed  at  the  red  brick  houses,  enclosed  by  the  vine  clad  walls, 
Which  shut  in  the  pretty  gardens  on  which  the  blessing  of 
nature  falls. 

At  the  Confederate  Mansion  they  told  him  how  the  camp  fires 
had  shone  so  bright, 
For  almost  a  year  the  bugles  were  heard,  and  the  fires  shone 
night  after  night. 
From  the  beating  of  drums  his  thoughts  wandered,  to  the  guns 
with  their  rumble  and  glare, 
He  had  suffered  four  years  with  the  South,  and  their  suffer- 
ing still  did  he  share. 

A  young  woman,  the  wife  of  a  soldier  who  in  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg  fought, 
Received  the  sad  smile  of  Lincoln,  which  to  many  such  com- 
fort had  brought; 
And  he  said  as  he  stopped  and  kissed  the  babe,  in  her  arms  the 
mother  bore, 
"Come,  Tad;  we  better  go  home — for  I  can't — stand — any 
— more." 


u 


O    Q 

a   O 
2    H 


Z    Z 

O    X 

§1 


58 

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OS 


Abraham     Lincoln         95 

The  Death  of  Lincoln 

On  the  14th  of  April  in  '65, 

The  cities  and  country  were  surely  alive, 
The  great  war  was  ended — all  hearts  with  joy  filled, 

The  bands  played  their  music — the  guns  were  now  stilled. 
Captain  Robert  Lincoln  to  his  home  returned, 

For  with  love  for  his  home  his  heart  had  burned, 
And  General  Grant  arrived  with  the  son 

Of  the  man  who  the  hearts  of  the  nation  had  won. 

Washington  went  wild  with  joy  that  night, 

Was  bedecked  with  flags  and  bunting  bright; 
The  night  was  flooded  with  moonlight  clear, 

Lights  shone  from  the  windows  far  and  near. 
Two  theaters  word  to  the  President  sent, 

That  his  box  would  be  ready,  but  to  Ford's  he  went. 
First  come,  first  served,  was  Lincoln's  way, 

And  Ford's  was  first,  so  he  saw  their  play. 

"Our  American  Cousin"  the  play  was  named, 

This  wonderful  play  was  widely  famed; 
But  Tad,  with  his  tutor  went  to  see, 

What  "The  Wonderful  Lamp  Of  Aladdin"  might  be, 
Lincoln  was  happier  than  he  had  been  before 

For  many  years,  for  the  war  was  o'er. 
He  had  suffered  as  though  he  was  brother  to  all, 

Since  they  heard  the  first  drum  and  the  first  bugle  call. 


96  TheLifeof 

Lincoln  quietly  sat  and  enjoyed  the  play, 

He  often  rested  just  that  way. 
A  sharp  shot  rang  while  all  was  still; 

With  horror  each  heart  in  the  house  did  fill. 
Lincoln  swayed — for  the  bullet  went 

Straight  to  the  one  for  whom  it  was  meant, 
And  "with  malice  toward  none — with  charity  for  all," 

The  ruler  they  loved,  a  martyr  did  fall. 

A  messenger  came  to  the  tutor  of  Tad; 

With  a  look  of  surprise,  he  turned  to  the  lad, 
"Your  father  is  ill,  'tis  better  that  we 

Go  home — for  there  you  had  better  be." 
When  they  had  retired,  the  announcement  came; 

The  news  was  received  by  all  the  same; 
The  terrible  news  spread  fast  that  night, 

Their  ruler  was  shot — their  beacon  light. 

No  one  knew  how  the  story  spread, 

Over  the  country  it  speedily  fled, 
While  the  whole  of  the  city  where  all  was  so  bright, 

Suddenly  changed  to  sorrow  that  night. 
Tad,  reaching  home,  found  the  one  who  had  been 

The  bodyguard  to  his  father,  and  then 
He  threw  himself  in  the  man's  embrace, 

And  bursting  in  tears  he  buried  his  face. 

"Oh,  Tom  Pen,  Tom  Pen,"  and  he  wouldn't  be  stilled, 

"They've  killed  my  papa  day — my  papa  day  they've  killed." 

Like  a  father  he  tenderly  carried  the  lad 

Up  to  his  room — with  a  heart  that  was  sad; 


Abraham     Lincoln         97 

He  took  off  his  shoes  while  together  they  wept, 
And  bathed  his  face  while  the  little  boy  kept 

Close  in  his  arms — he  would  sob  and  say, 
As  he  held  him  close — "My  papa  day." 

The  heavens  wept  the  following  day, 

The  bands  the  solemn  march  did  play, 
And  doleful  dirges  tolled  the  bells, 

And  sounded  forth  their  funeral  knells. 
Four  days  the  President  lay  in  state; 

He  had  passed  from  them  thru  the  Heavenly  Gate. 
Then  to  Springfield  they  took  him  and  laid  him  to  rest, 

God  gave  us  this  ruler — by  his  life  we  were  blessed. 

Note — Tad  always  called  his  father  "papa  day." 


